Grave covering apparatus



GRAVE lCOVERING- APPARATUS Filed Feb, 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fb. i8,W36.

N'R. MOORE GRAVE COVERING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ATONEY -Patentecl Feb. 18, 1936 NETE STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

The invention relates to mechanism for apparatus intended for use bymorticians, funeral directors and the like for the purpose of covering agrave automatically as the casket is lowered.

It is well known that at cemetery services it has now become thepractice to place within and about a grave a lining or covering ofmaterial which is formed as the representation of grass mats, thepurpose being to cover the raw soil and detract from the harsh and coldappearance of the grave. It is also known that numerous mechanicaldevices have been devised for the purpose of gently and slowly loweringthe casket as the ceremony progresses, such devices renderingunnecessary the presence of mechanics with the well known hand loweringstraps or other devices of the past. However, notwithstanding theprogress which has been made along the above mentioned two' lines, therestill exists a certain amount of shock to the feelings of bereavedspectators when the casket disappears into the yawning void of the graveand it is on account of this latter mentioned fact that I have devisedthe present invention which has for its general object the provision ofnovel means associated with and operated by the casket loweringmechanism for automatically drawing and folding the imitation grass matsover the top of the grave as the casket is lowered, the grave beingconsequently covered by a mound of mat-like material which appears to besod, thus creating an impression far less harrowing to thesentimentalities of bereaved spectators than would otherwise be thecase.

An important object of the invention is to provide a grave coverapplying means which may be constructed as an attachment to an alreadyeX- ist'ing casket lowering apparatus.

Yet another object is to provide an apparatus of this characterembodying features of adjustability so as to compensate for differencesin the width of the casket lowering mechanism, it being known that thesize of the latter is varied in accordance with the width of the actualgrave.

The invention further contemplates the pro'- vision of a very simple andyet novel means for attaching the cover applying mechanism to thelowering apparatus without involving the making of material changes inthe latter.

An additional object is to provide a device of this character which willbe comparatively simple and inexpensive to make and use, easy to set upand adjust, positive in action, efficient and durable in service, and ageneral improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, theinvention preferably consists in the 4details of construction and thearrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device showing it attached to a casketlowering mechanism and in situ with respect to a grave,

Figure 2 is a side elevation,

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 ofFigure 2, l

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through one oi thetransverse guides,

Figure 5 is a top plan view of what is shown in Figure 4, the devicebeing detached from the casket lowering mechanism,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly insection, of one end of one of the longitudinal members of my apparatus,

Figure 7 is a detail cross section taken on the line '1 -'l of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View looking at the underside ofone end of one of the transverse guides,

Figure 9 is a similar view looking at the guide from a different angle,

Figure l0 is a fragmentary perspective View showing one end of one ofthe longitudinal members of my apparatus,

Figure il is a detail view showing one of the elements for moving thelongitudinal mem-bers Referring more particularly to the drawings itwill be noted that I have, in Figures i, 2, vand 3, shown a conventionaland popular form A`of casket lowering mechanism to which my device isattached, the whole being mounted upon the usual cross beams A, andlongitudinal beams B which are disposed upon the ground adjacent theends of the sides, respectively, of a `grave C. While the loweringmechanism forms no part of the present invention, it is shown for thesake of clearness and is represented as including corner posts D mountedupon the beams B and connected by telescopic longitudinal members E andtelescopic transverse members F. The members E and F carry intermeshingbevel gears G and H, respectively, located within the upstanding postsD. As is customary in devices of this type, the casket supporting strapsor webs I are secured to and wrapped about the longitudinal members E.The arrangement is of course such that there is provided within at leastone of the posts D a brake mechanism for checking the descent of thecasket which is placed upon the straps I at the beginning of or prior tothe funeral services. This brake mechanism is not shown as it is old andwell known and as it forms no part of the present invention. However,such mechanism is customarily adjustable so as to hold the casketstationary as long as desired and to permit it to descend into the graveat a predetermined or desirable speed. The longitudinal members E andtransverse members F are formed of telescopic sections in order topermit adjustability so that the device may be accommodated to graves ofwidely different sizes. The intermeshing gears G and H insuresimultaneous rotation of the longitudinal members E and consequentuniform unwrapping of the straps or Webs I therefrom as the casket islowered under the inuence of gravity.

In carrying out my invention I provide an attachment which is formed asa complete and separate entity adapted to be mounted upon the alreadyexisting lowering mechanism above described and comprising the parts Dto I inclusive. This mechanism is represented as comprising transverseguides I5 each formed of telescopically engaged tubular sections I6formed in their upper sides with registering slots I'I and in the endportions of their lower sides with elongated openings I8. In order tomount the guides I5 upon the posts D of the lowering mechanism, Iprovide the tubular members I6 with preferably dovetail shapedprojections I9 received within socket members on the inner faces of theposts D. It should be understood that the purpose in constructing theguides I5 of the telescopic sections I6 is to permit adjustability tocorrespond with the adjustability of the tubular members F or thedistance between the posts D. Mounted upon spindles 2| extendingtransversely of the end portions of the members I6 are grooved pulleys22 about the outer portions of which are engaged flexible members 23which may conveniently be simply ropes, and which are for a purpose tobe described.

Rotatably mounted upon the end portions of the longitudinal members E ofthe lowering mechanism are grooved drums 24 which are adapted to beconnected to the members E for rotation therewith. To eiect this when adesired adjusted relationship has been obtained as will be explained, Iprovide upon each of the members E a longitudinally shiftable latchmember 25 having a nger piece 28 and adapted to be engaged within aselected one of a plurality of sockets 2T in the adjacent drum 24. Oneend of each of the flexible members 23 is secured to one of the drums24, the exact mode being immaterial but very conveniently comprising thesimple expedient of inserting one free end of the exible member within asocket or recess 28 in the depressed or central part of the periphery ofthe drum and securing said end in place as by means of a screw 29entering an appropriately tapped hole in the drum as very clearly shownin Figure 7. In addition to having one end positively secured to one ofthe drums 24, the iiexible members or ropes 23 are also wrapped aboutthe associated drums to a greater or less extent. Referring to Figure 4in particular it is thought that the rope arrangement will be clearinasmuch as said gure shows the ropes or flexible members at each end ofthe apparatus as having one end secured to a drum and wrapped thereupon,from which point the exible members, respectively, pass around the outerportions of the adjacent pulleys 22, then along within the guides I5 andthen through holes 30 in the lower ends of the opposite or remoteangular arms 3| which have their upper ends provided with ball heads 32for a purpose to be described. The flexible members are consequently incrossed relation. Outwardly beyond the arm members 3| the cables, ropesor other flexible members hang free or depend but are equipped withstops 33 which are intended to be adjustable along the length of thedepending portions of the flexible members and which are thereforerepresented, as will be best seen from an inspection of Figure ll, as ofballlike form with an aperture for the passage or reception of theflexible member, Securing with respect to which may be effected by meansof a grub screw 34 clampingly engaging the iexible member.

My cover applying attachment further includes longitudinal rails 35which should, logically, be formed of tubular telescopic sections 36 soas to be adjustable to accord with the length of the members E of thelowering mechanism. The outer end portions of the members 36 arerepresented as formed with a species of curved bayonet slots 31, thelarger ends of which are for the reception of the heads or knobs 32 onthe arms 3| and the smaller ends of which are intended to receive thearms 3| adjacent the heads 32 when the members 36 are engaged upon thearms 3| and partly rotated. The relationship between the members 36 andthe arms 3| should be readily understood from an inspection of Figuresl0 and 11. The engagement of the angular arms 3| within the bayonetslots 31 and the angularity of these arms will operate to hold up theunsecured ends of the ropes or other exible members 23 as clearlyindicated in Figure 4.

The mechanism is of course used in association with the well known matsindicated at J, which mats are formed of some appropriate material andconstructed to resemble grass.

To use the device, it is of course rst necessary that the loweringmechanism comprising the parts D to I be properly positioned at thegrave and supported by the planks A and B. The transverse guides I5 areadjusted longitudinally so that the projections I9 thereon will bereceived within the sockets 20 on the posts or standards D. The angulararms 3| are moved apart soi as to be positioned within the outer endportions of the slots I'I and the members 36, after being telescopicallyadjusted as to length are so positioned with respect to the transverseguides or rails I5 that the wide ends of the bayonet slots 3l may bepassed over the heads 32 of the arms 3|, after which the members 36 aregiven a partial rotation and possibly readjusted lengthwise to cause thesmall ends of the bayonet slots to receive the arms 3|. When this isdone it is apparent that the members 36 will not become detached withrespect to the guides I5. The gravey lining mats J are then hung `overthe longitudinal rails 35 comprising the parts 36 and are suspendedtherefrom so as to lie against the sides of the grave as indicated inFigure 3. The lowering mechanism itself is of course adjusted inreadiness to receive the casket upon the straps or webs I. The latchmembers 25 are intended to be withdrawn from the drums 24 so that thedrums may be turned by hand to wind on or leil rolif the exible memberssecured to and Wrapped thereabout until the stops 33 are at the desiredposition with respect to the lower ends of the arms 3 I, the idea beingthat it is not intended for the rails 35 to move toward each other' fordrawing the grass mats J up over the grave until the. casket has beenlowered to the desired extent. As mentioned above at the beginning ofthe funeral services the rails 35 are intended to be widely separatedwith the grass mats depending therefrom.

Everything having been adjusted as indicated above when whatever brakeme-chanism controlling the descent of the casket is released the weightof the casket upon the straps or webs I will cause the si'de rails E ofthe lowering mechanism to be rotated in a direction downwardly andtoward each other. When this occurs the drums 24 which are l-ocked ontothe side rails E by engagement of the latch members 25 Within theselected recesses 21 will also be rotated and will wind up the ropes orother flexible members 23. However, nothing happens until the stops 33come into engagement with the lower ends of the arms 3|, which willoccur some time after the casket has started to lower, the timedepending on the initial adjustment of the parts or the position of thestops with respect to the arms 3l.

As the casket is lowered and when the stops engage the arms 3| thecontinued descent of the casket causing continued winding of the ropes4or other flexible members onto the drums will result in movement oi therails 35 toward each other. As this movement continues the grass matshanging from Ithe rails 35 will be drawn toward each other, their edgessliding more or less with respect to the rails. Depending upon theadjustment of the: parts, it will be seen that when the casket hasdescended to the desired extent the grass mats will have been pulledtogether up over the top of the grave as shown by the dot and dash linesin Figure 3, thereby presenting the appearance of a sodded moundcovering the grave and giving a much less harsh and harrowing appearancethan if the grave were left uncovered as is ordinarily the prac-tice.Later, for instance after the services have been concluded and themourners have departed, the grass mats, the covering apparatus and thelowering mechanism are of course removed so that the grave may beiillecl in the customary manner.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will beapparent that I have thus provided a very simple `and inexpensivemechanism for temporarily covering a grave,l the device being calpableof manufacture as a complete and separate entity adapted for attachmentto already existing lowering mechanisms of various sorts or, ifpreferred, being capable of production as part of the loweringmechanism, this depending upon the preference of the manufacturer andthe demands of the trade. It will be noted that the device has been madefully adjustable to accord with the adjustability of the loweringmechanism which in lturn is necessitated by variations in the sizes ofgraves and caskets. In fact every contingency has been prepared for totake care of all conceivable circumstances or conditions and it istherefore believed that the device will be eminently satisfactory forthe purpose intended.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theyinvention, it should be understood that the disclosure is mere-ly anVexemplii'lcation of the principles involved as the right is reserved tomake all such changes in the details of construction as will widen theiield of utility and increase the adaptability of the device providedsuch changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A grave cover applying attachment for a casket lowering mechanismincluding supports and longitudinal side members journally connectedtherewith .and connected for simultaneous rotary movement; includingrelatively stationary transverse rails, interengaging elements on saidsupports and said transverse rails for mounting the latter, longitudinalside rails slidable toward or from each other along said transverserails and adapted to have a pliable mat draped thereover, meanspositively connecting the side rails with said transverse rails andmeans operatively connecting said side members and said side rails formoving the latter toward each other as the former are rotated.

2. A grave cover applying .attachment for a casket lowering mechanismincluding end supports and longitudinal side members journaled thereinand connected for simultaneous rotary movement; comprising relativelystationary transverse rails, means for detachably connecting saidtransverse rails with said end supports, longitudinal side railsslidable toward or from each other along said transverse rails andadapted to have a pliable mat draped thereover, .and means operatingwithin said transverse rails and operatively connecting said sidemembers and said side rails for moving the latter toward each other asthe former are rotated, said means being ineffective throughout apredetermined number of revolutions of said side members.

3. A grave cover applying attachment for .a casket lowering mechanismincluding uprights and longitudinal side members supported thereby andconnected for simultaneous rotary movement; comprising relativelystationary transverse rails, interengaging elements on said uprights andtransverse rails for detachably mounting the latter on the former,longitudinal side rails slidable toward or from each other along saidtransverse rails and adapted to have a pliable mat draped thereover,means slidable along said transverse rails for positively connectingsaid side rails thereto, means operatively connecting said side membersand said side rails for moving the latter toward each other as theformer are rotated, and adjustable means forming part of the connectionbetween the side members and side rails for enabling the latter toremain stationary throughout a predetermined number of revolutions ofthe former.

4. A grave cover applying attachment for a casket lowering mechanismincluding upright supports and longitudinal side members supportedthereby and connected for simultaneous rotary movement; comprisingrelatively stationary telescopic transverse rails, projections on saidtransverse rails engaging within sockets on said upright supports formounting the transverse rails, longitudinal side rails slidable towardor from each other along said transverse rails and adapted to have apliable mat draped thereover, means operatively connecting said sidemembers and said side rails for moving the latter toward each other .asthe former are rotated, means forming part of said operative connectionenabling the side members to have a predetermined number of revolutionspreliminary to movement of said side rails toward each other, and meansfor adjusting said last named means.

5. A grave cover applying attachment for a casket lowering mechanismincluding supports and longitudinal side members supported thereby andconnected for simultaneous rotary movement; comprising relativelystationary transverse rails, means for mounting said transverse railsdirectly on the lowering mechanism, longitudinal side rails slidabletoward or from each other along said transverse rails and adapted tohave a pliable mat draped thereover, means operatively connecting saidside members and said side rails for moving the latter toward each otheras the former are rotated, said means including drums carried by saidside members, flexible members secured to and trained about said drumsand movable within said transverse rails and connected with the oppositeside rails, and elements carried by said flexible members, slidablewithin said transverse rails and connected with said longitudinal rails.

6. A grave cover applying attachment for a casket lowering mechanismincluding supports and longitudinal side members supported thereby andconnected for simultaneous rotary movement; comprising relativelystationary transverse rails, longitudinal side rails slidable toward orfrom each other along said transverse rails and adapted to have apliable mat draped thereover, means operatively connecting said sidemembers and said side rails for moving the latter toward each other asthe former are rotated, said means including drums carried by said sidemembers, flexible members secured to .and trained about said drums andmovable within said transverse rails, elements carried by said flexiblemembers, slidable along said transverse rails and connected with saidlongitudinal rails, the exible members being slidable through saidelements, and stop means carried by the flexible members and engageablewith said elements after the flexible members have been moved to apredetermined extent.

'7. A grave cover applying attachment for a casket lowering mechanismincluding supports and longitudinal members supported thereby andconnected for simultaneous rotary movement; comprising relativelystationary transverse rails having means for mounting upon the loweringmechanism, longitudinal side rails slidable toward or from each otheralong said transverse rails in positive connected relation thereto andadapted to have a pliable mat draped thereover, means operativelyconnecting said side members and said side rails or moving the lattertoward each other as the former are rotated, said means including drumscarried by said side members, flexible members secured to and trainedabout said drums and movable along said transverse rails, elementscarried by said effexible members, slidable along said transverse railsand connected with said longitudinal side rails, and means for latchingsaid drums upon said side members in a predetermined rotatably adjustedposition with respect thereto.

8. A grave cover applying attachment for a casket lowering mechanismincluding corner supports and longitudinal side members rotatablymounted therein and connected for simultaneous rotary movement;comprising transverse rails, means for mounting the transverse railsupon said corner supports, longitudinal rails slidable toward or fromeach other along said transverse rails and adapted to have a pliable matdraped thereover, exible members extending within said transverse railsand adapted to be shortened by rotation of said side members, and meanscarried by said exible members and connected with the opposite ones ofsaid side rails for moving the latter as the side members are rotated.

9. An attachment for a casket lowering mechanism including supports andlongitudinal members journally mounted with respect thereto forsimultaneous rotation in opposite directions; said attachment comprisingtransverse rails, means for detachably connecting the transverse railswith said supports, longitudinal rails slidable to` ward each otheralong said transverse rails, drums carried by said side members, exibleembers secured to and trained about the drums and extending within saidtransverse rails, said transverse rails being formed with slots,elements carried by said transverse rails and slidable along said slotsand detachably connected with said longitudinal rails, and meansadjustably mounted along each of said flexible members and cooperablewith the remote ones of said elements for moving the latter andconsequently said longitudinal rails when said side members are rotated.

10. An attachment for a casket lowering mechanism including suports andlongitudinal members journally mounted with respect thereto forsimultaneous rotation in opposite directions; said attachment comprisingtransverse rails, means for detachably connecting the transverse railswith said supports, longitudinal rails slidable toward each other alongsaid transverse rails, drums carried by said side members, flexiblemembers secured to and trained about the drums and extending in crossedrelation longitudinally within said transverse rails, said transverserails being formed with slots, elements slidable within said transverserails and having projecting portions extending through said slots anddetachably connected with said longitudinal rails, means adjustabiymounted along said flexible members and engageable with the oppositeones of said elements for moving the latter and consequently saidlongitudinal rails when said side members are rotated, and means forrotatably adjusting the drums with respect to the side members.

NINIAN R. MOORE.

